Spirit of Da Vinci®
Cash Awards to Inventors

When the membership in UtahInventor.org is sufficiently large to support an internal awards program, the Spirit of da Vinci awards will be implemented.  The Spirit of da Vinci awards will provide early recognition for inventors based on creativity and potential value of their inventions, and do not depend upon actual commercial success.   Few of the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci were ever actually constructed, yet no one doubts his creative genius.   Although innovation and commercialization are usually the ultimate goal, product realization can take years.   Furthermore, inventors are typically removed from actual product development long before commercial success is achieved.  Frequently, any recognition for the innovation is directed toward company executives, rather than the original inventor.  In the da Vinci competition, inventors and their invention are the primary focus of rewards and commendation.

Annual awards are divided into seven categories:

• Mechanical— vehicles, equipment, tools, house wares, etc.
• Chemical—plastics, composites, material science, pharmaceuticals, etc.
• Electrical devices and Computer hardware
• Business methods and software
• Medical devices
• Games/Entertainment—sports, toys, leisure products
• Miscellaneous—Inventions not readily assigned to other categories.

It is anticipated that not all categories will have equal or qualified participating inventors.  Each year a total prize fund will be identified and divided among winning inventions in accordance with independent assessment of the judges.  Separate prizes will be awarded to (i) corporate and university inventors and (ii) independent inventors.  Student inventors will also receive scholarship awards.  Accordingly, independent inventors with limited funding will not have to compete with industry and academia.  Both groups can therefore anticipate a fair allocation of prize money, individually estimated at various levels between $100 to $1000.

Grand Prize
$5,000 or more

The Foundation will seek a sponsor that is willing to offer at least $3,000 to $5,000 for an invention that is judged to be so significant that it is entitled to special recognition.

Such an award may not be given each year; however, the sponsor will offer a commitment to be prepared to make such a donation if judged appropriate.